In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy sits down with Doug DeGroff, a seasoned dairy professional who brings the rare perspective of having lived and worked in three of the most prominent dairy regions in the U.S.—New York, Wisconsin, and California. Doug shares his expansive career in the dairy industry, from milking cows on one of New York's most progressive dairies, managing a dairy in Wisconsin, to settling in California's Central Valley.

Now with Progressive Dairy Solutions, Doug recounts his growth in the industry, his role as a mentor, and the resilience it took to overcome life-threatening accidents, including being buried under 20 tons of silage.

Doug also discusses the evolution of large-scale dairies, advancements in genetics and technology, and the importance of family and gratitude. This episode highlights Doug's journey through grit, growth, and a drive to improve both the dairy industry and his personal life.

This Episode is Brought to you by Milc Group

Milc Group is a dairy software company that brings real-time, actionable data to dairy farms across the world. They are dedicated to revolutionizing the dairy industry with their user-friendly cloud-based software. ONE™ by Milc Group is our all-in-one app that brings together all the important aspects of your dairy together in one place. With products such as feed and animal management software, people training, dairy facility monitoring, and scale management, Milc Group is committed to providing producers with the tools they need to succeed.

• ONETM Feed: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/feed
• ONETM Scale: https://www.milcgroup.com/product/scale

00:00 Introduction to Doug DeGroff's Dairy Journey

02:06 Early Life and Career Beginnings

03:37 Transition to California

05:25 Experiences in Dairy Management

13:38 Nutrition Consultancy and Feeder Training

19:05 Silage Avalanche Survivor

22:03 The Significance of Back Braces

23:42 Impact of the First Injury

24:57 The Second Injury and Recovery

27:24 Lessons from Adversity

30:49 Technological Advancements in Dairying

35:13 Future of the Dairy Industry

40:50 Personal Reflections and Career Motivation

42:51 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Welcome to Uplevel Dairy's #1 Most Downloaded Episode!

Over five years ago, dairy farmer Tom Oesch and his partners at Swiss Lane Farms in Michigan defined their vision: To grow to 7,000 cows in seven years. Find out how they are putting that vision into action, transitioning the business from one generation to the next, and growing leaders within their team. And walk away with a renewed motivation from Tom to live life to its fullest NOW.

What you’ll learn:

• The decision to double down on dairying and expand to multiple sites
• Determining core values and using them to make decisions
• Transitioning the business from third to fourth generation
• Living his golden years now
• Growing leaders from within

Head to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠UplevelDairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ to read the blog and join the Uplevel Dairy email list to receive new podcasts, blogs, and offers from Uplevel Dairy in your inbox.To listen to more episodes, head over to Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Don’t forget to rate and review!

Connect with Peggy: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠peggy@upleveldairy.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Follow Uplevel Dairy on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠

In this episode of the Uplevel Dairy Podcast, Peggy Coffeen speaks with Mikayla McGee of Jon-De Farms in Baldwin, Wisconsin. With dairy farming roots at Jon-De dating back to 1912, Mikayla shares her journey of returning to her family farm, challenging traditions, and making bold decisions to optimize operations. From right-sizing their dairy herd and adopting a rotary parlor to navigating human resources and maintaining the legacy, Mikayla discusses the blend of innovation and tradition that drives the farm today.

This Episode is Brought to you by Compeer Financial.

Compeer Financial is a member-owned Farm Credit cooperative serving and supporting agriculture and rural America. Our dairy team brings world-class expertise and tailored solutions to support dairy producers’ financial goals and lending needs.
For more information, contact the Compeer Dairy Industry Experts.

Dairy Industry Articles: Gain knowledge from subject matter experts

• 00:00 Introduction to Bold Decisions at Jon-De Farms
• 01:15 Mikayla McGee's Return and Leadership Challenges
• 01:49 Historical Insights and Family Legacy
• 03:57 Transitioning and Finding Her Place
• 08:44 Innovative Changes and Right-Sizing the Dairy
• 14:40 Implementing the Rotary Parlor
• 16:57 Employee Well-being and Work Schedule Adjustments
• 18:29 Technology and Innovations in Dairy Farming
• 20:22 Right-Sizing Philosophy and Financial Decisions
• 22:45 Human Resource Management and Employee Relations
• 27:30 Future Plans and Personal Reflections
• 28:47 Rapid-Fire Questions and Final Thoughts